I, of course, was nowhere in the picture, not even the twinkle in his eye. But I remember the pictures and stories he told of being there and in the war. There were two pictures that I recall as my favorites, One of him in a grass skirt and one of his other "family", a native New Guinea black woman and a slew of kids. They weren't really his family, he just loved to tease us.
My dad never questioned his obligation to go, it was his duty as an American man, and he was proud to have served. I was equally as proud, later on, as his daughter, that he served his country well. He of course came back from the war to his family and went on to have another family.
As a little girl, one of my favorite things on rainy days, was to sit on the front porch and listen to his Navy stories and sing his Navy songs. I still have his Blue Jackets Manual, the book issued to every Navy man in boot camp.
He was a well respected man in our little community. I don't think he had an enemy in the world and liked every one. He was always willing to help someone in need and didn't speak ill of anyone. His theory was if he didn't like someone, he just didn't talk about them at all.
That's my dad, I'm proud of him, I love him, and I miss him everyday.
:J 
